Page 132 of Wrath of the Fae

I claw at his hands, desperate to get him away. To make him stop!

The smell. Burning flesh. Everything is a blinding white. Hot and searing. My feet kick and kick. I can’t even scream anymore. There’s too much pain!

My eyes!

Jonah lets me go and throws me over his shoulder.

‘Time to go. Don’t want to stick around for the finale.’

There’s a raging yell getting closer. Jonah slows and starts to look around.

The screaming gets closer. Closer.

‘GET THE FUCK OFF MY SISTER!’

Jonah is body slammed. I’m dropped and land with a painful grunt as Rhea screams and attacks Jonah, fuelled by utter rage. I hear her hitting and punching before she’s tossed away.

‘My lucky day,’ Jonah pants. ‘Two little whores.’

‘Make that three!’ Tessa yells.

Jonah starts to scream.

I don’t know why, but I can imagine. I’ve seen Tessa use her Empath gifts on others. Channelling unbridled fear into her victims. Hell, I’ve felt it.

I roll over, feeling the mud and sodden grass beneath me as I groan and struggle to stay conscious.

I have to stay conscious! They don’t know!

I try to push myself up. I get to my hands and knees, but that’s my limit.

Lucca!

I call again. He doesn’t reply. Why doesn’t he reply?

Rhea and Tessa are attacking Jonah. He shouts, enraged that two women dare stand between him and me.

The air fills with a sound, like a horn, blasting through the sky.

A wave of heat covers me, and the girls scream. A few seconds later, Tessa shouts, calling him a coward.

Then they’re both at my side.

Rhea’s hands rest gently on my back.

‘I’m here, Raven,’ she says softly. ‘You’re okay now. He’s running. They’re all running away.’

Tessa takes my hand as it sinks into the mud and grips it tightly.

‘We’ve won,’ she says. ‘The soldiers are fleeing.’

I shake my head, still struggling to find the strength to lift it.

‘Bombs,’ I manage, my head still bowed low. ‘Beneath the city.’

‘What?’ Rhea asks.

‘They’re going to blow it all up. That’s… that’s why they’re running! There are explosives under the palace. It will destroy everything and everyone!’

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